One of the new Gold Coast Light Rail Tram – G:Link.Photo Credit: Brisbane Times

The Gold Coast got it’s first peek on the new Light Rail Trams today during today’s launch of the brand G:Link and the Trams.

Mayor Tom Tate, and other dignitaries, milled around a lever which after a countdown, would release the new light rail tram to the waiting media.

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said: “Look I think this is fabulous. Having a look at this train here, I think anyone seeing these running down the tracks along the Gold Coast Light Rail, will think this is fabulous. A magnificent icon it will become for the Gold Coast and Queensland.”

The new tram will be puts through it paces shortly in October 2014 to train rail staff and familiarise everyone with the huge change to the Gold Coast landscape the new light rail will make. June 2014 is when the light rail will officially open to the public.

The Gold Coast Light Rail route will service the busiest areas of the city, with Stage One of development focussing on providing services to the areas most in need of efficient transport solutions in the short term. Further reading.

The Gold Coast Light Rail project is scheduled to be implemented in stages throughout the city. Due to the costs of construction (including light rail stations, depots, bridges, tracks, trams and power supply), as well as disruption to both vehicle and pedestrian traffic in the construction zones, it was not feasible to roll out the entire network at once. Further reading.

After more than fifteen years of development since it was first proposed in 1998, Stage One construction of light rail for the Gold Coast has finally begun, with services from Southport to Broadbeach scheduled to commence in June 2014. Further reading.